others. we're thinking about this well, in advance. also i want to note in terms of ada last meeting i talked about the one dollar that's being added to the business register so the d d i was an entity that would particularly receive some of the funding to help them move along and get their inspectors certified. they're interested in turning the funds back into what they could use toward cast

inspections. we'll be meeting over the next three weeks >> the bulk of the money will not be coming in until may. i've talked to the person who is in charge of that monies. i think one the great benefits is funding a cast certification for businesses. so i'll be, you know, keeping you updated on this. and then last meeting i noted there was a meeting in chinatown doing presentation on getting cast certification, doing assess boycotting improvements. the union was our core sponsor

and one of the things say they do education to their business clients. we had 13 applications for getting assistance to go forward and getting a first walk through and getting an assessment for access abilility. we'll all pleased with this. i'm sure more about come through. and then small business saturday november 30th of 2013 we're going to be starting this earlier with the american express and is chamber to start planning for that. and then the retreat is february

26th is it? or excuse me. . february 25th. and so as i mentioned i will be meeting with president adams to work on the agenda but also will be reaching out to each one of the commissioners to talk to you about the retreat and what you would like to see worked on. legislation wise are having a quiet legislative - not much legislation has been introduced. next meeting you will be hearing is tobacco register restriction. we're going to get a presentation about clove

restrictive ice areas. there are several throughout this community and you'll be able to hear with the alcohol restrict areas. and then the c r v the outreach committee will be reviewing the. draft and the commission will receive it on february 11th. the letter that the commission approved it is - did it make it into the binder? >> and so that letter has been forwarded onto the mayor. and the examiner made note of the xhoirgss discussion and our

recommendations >> and comments. next dp h is xhooern a meeting >> highway education will be taking place. so this is to really take a look at the uninsured of san francisco some will be going into medi-cal and covered california is the name of the exchange program for of the state of california. and it is through the exchange program that i think - this is where i think this is where small business either really, you know, working with their individual employees to be doing their own purchasing or small

businesses doing the purchases with the small business program how their - it's still being sdurmd so this thursday dp h is hosting a meeting to give us some information on how all that will be working. so quick question for you. how fame are you with the concept of the exchange program with the affordable exchange act >> not fame. >> i think it would be good for us to have that information. >> i mean - >> the exchange program is the concept - as a business you're

looking for insurance you might be to look at what you're able to purchase within your budget. one of the things that people who are self-employed is the high cost of self-insuring yourself. so in the affordable care act is to allow individuals to purchase it more at a group rate vs. an individual rate and whose running the exchange program? >> as i understand it, it's not completely finally, the state develops the program and i think they're going to have county by

county having someone at the accounting level run and manager the program but to be determined. these are some of the details i hope to be getting at this meeting. and then the last note is just a reminder >> february 7th. >> okay february 7th i have that completely wrong in my calendar. febrile 7th so that is a >> thursday. >> week from this coming thursday. and it's the 60th anniversary for the county of merchants.

so you can see the highlight of the mayors city he'd i have attacked the press release for you. you can take a look at other elements of the city and the successes that have trans paradise throughout the year. and that concludes my report >> public comment 1, 2, 3, 4. seeing none. i wanted to see the date >> i thought that was a bit awkward but i trusted my calendar. and their website isn't up so i couldn't go back and verify.

we'll we will verify that for you >> it is the 7 accounting. >> our retreat is on the 28 of february. is it the rae treat the wednesday >> i believe it was a thursday and thursday. >> commissioners should have - i don't know if you have. >> it's at 1 clock. >> we just changed over from different softwares. i'm going to blame it on that and mr. president, would i like the next item called >> it allows the president to make announcements that are of interest to the small business

community. >> and we're going to talk about b - i want to give you some information the fundraising efforts we raised $70,000 raised. we're right on track. we're currently selecting businesses to be photographed for a small business campaign so if anyone has any ideas let us know. our small business week is going to be may 13 through 18. our theme is shaping communities. it's pretty much along the lines. on may 13th we'll be doing the

favors of the city. we expect to have about 15 hundred people. you'll have to register online and we're limiting tickets on how many people can come. on tuesday may fourteen the board of supervisors will be - each supervisor will be selecting the winner and the mayor will select the winner from the whole city. and then we're going to be offering 50 workshops and the topics is doing business with the government to how to toward

a mobile truck business. we'll have other activities from 530 to 9:00 p.m. and small business commissioners we'll all be in attendance. then on friday may 17th small things will be taking place around the city we'll have more information later. on saturday may 18 there will be sidewalk sales. and we once again will wave the sidewalk fees. and thalz i have at the moment >> what date again is the deal

at the met iron. >> may 13 that can and we're trying, you know, if we get our funding we'd like to tint the outside because we'd like to have leave people come and so there's two key opportunities for the commission may fourteen the there no awards of sermons and then thursday evening for the awards. those are the two key things for the commissions to be attending >> and may 13 to may 18th is what.

commissioners i'll follow-up >> are we going to have a reception again. >> excuse me. and then the board of supervisors we will be hosting the reception. >> and is supervisors need to start picking somebody. >> businesses and they've already been notified. >> we'll sent out the safe the day invitation. we don't send them out earlier because they get lost and just a note for businesses we'll be looking at their permits so we can make sure that businesss are meeting the requirement of city mandates.

what's that? >> next item. >> i have a brief report and just for the record. >> i attended the district 3 allocation of discretionary fund. district 3 is the first grew up in san francisco where they will be taking us to the residence and to district 3 they'll decide how they want to spend their funds. so people were able to submit their requests for these funds. they're number one interest was

funding forecast inspections for ada businesses. i told them to contact the funds off. i want to say that was very high for people's interests >> next item. >> commissioners item 12 general public commit and do we have any people in the audience who would like to make any public comment? anybody have they items for new business? seeing then next item >> commissioners item fourteen and i want to know there was any

letters in your folder. >> any motion for adjourn? with that meeting is >> good morning everyone. it's a great time of the year to unveil-- happy new year actually. my name is claudine cheng.

i'm speaking as a past president of oca, organization of chinese americans. every year is special; this year is specifically more special because historically the first year honoring chinese heritage was in 1993, this is the twentieth year anniversary of that; we are proud and happy that the happy new year series is continuing -- by the united states postal service. oca is a national organization 20 years ago urge the postal service to issue a series of stamps to honor the contributions of chinese americans

and we have the support of many local organizations, the chinese chamber of commerce, the chinese consolidated benevolent associations and many other national organizations and national leaders that joined asking the post office to consider doing that. we see the stamp as an important part of the american cultural heritage; chinese-americans are a big part of it. this is a special year, our twentieth year. i would like to introduce our mayor, ed lee, this is his press conference. mayor lee has been to many, many if not all of the -- in san francisco. in as many capacities as a public official in san francisco. mayor lee? >> thank you caludine for your work.

from the first time when you were in dc getting us excited about our national stamp; really our national culture could be reflected for everybody in america. this is a wonderful opportunity yet again and i know this is the sixth stamp? sixth in the second series. i'm glad to be joined the board president david chiu, our new supervisor norman yee district 7, and rod sengera postmaster general for the san francisco bay area. i see the wonderful beautiful designs that ken mack has for our stamp,a reflection of our cultural heritage. i want to thank the

representatives of chinese companies and many others witnessing this to unveil this again. we are getting ready for the new year. as people know we are finishing up on what i think is one of the most exciting years that we have had with the year of the dragon. you know as well as i do that so many things happened, somewhat miraculously whether the world series or on our way to perhaps a super bowl, and even the economic recovery. i kind of thing from our own culture that it had something to do with the alignment of some great fantastic events that we could not control but that came together. and for welcoming in this new year we call it the year of the serpent but some of us will refer to as as a year of the many dragon. of course i want to recognize

carmen chu hao district 4 supervisor as well; she has been a strong leader helping us promote the new year's as well of course taking care of her district, working as a wonderful supervisor. i am excited about this new year too because it has an opportunity to unveil many of our cultural aspirations in the city of san francisco. it has been 160 years, and we know our history well. my ascension to this office has been one of those things that people still consider me pretty special so much special not because of me but because of our community. this tab will have international status. gobs of people will want to have it, reflective of not

only our history but if i go to washington dc tomorrow we will have an opportunity to talk with the rest of the mayors across the country is to how to celebrate new year's. this would be another example. want to congratulate again claudine and the whole team, postmaster general, is leadership is always been important. and the public service that she does not only in delivering the mail and postal service but reflective of the stamp and the u.s. postal service office that we get this opportunity to have a national platform on which our culture affinities can be displayed. happy new year. (chinese) thank you mayor lee. every year the united states postal service in washington dc receives many applications

for subject matter to be reflected on a postal stamp. we really want to thank the poster service committee for selecting every year for the happy new year stamp, or the lunar year thing, to be part of the commemorative stamp program. with us today is seven cisco postmaster rog cingara (sounds like). >> thank you for that kind introduction. i want to thank you for being with us today and for your support of the united states postal service. i know you have important business in washington to attend to. something about an inauguration. i really appreciate your taking the time out here today and inviting us us to city hall and being part of the celebration. thank you claudine.

as always your support and your assistance have been instrumental and it is very much appreciated. thank very much. and thank you all for joining us here today. this is an auspicious ceremony in this beautiful city of san francisco where for the second year in a row now we have been the official first day of issue city for the lunar new year stamp. i might also add that for out of the six stamps in the series san francisco has been chosen three times to be the official city. we must be doing something right in san francisco. i am honored to represent the postal service. today is an exciting service. we are proud to celebrate our special time with our friends and the asian community.

appreciate the beauty of the stamps for them to use in the new year greetings to families and friends and we capture that beauty this year into celebrating the lunar year stamp. the stamp features the firecrackers that scare off evil spirits and renew hope for the future. the staff is available today at all post offices to help you prepare for the two-year mailings,, greeting cards , party invitations and gifts. we don't have stats available-for-sale at city hall but we do at this table here. we can put the date of issue postmark on them. we have cancellations at lincoln station and also add chinatown for the next 60 days. we are providing the cancellations of those two stations.

on behalf of the united states postal service i will like to invite mayor lee and our guests to unveil and dedicate the 2013 lunar new year stamp, year of the snake (chinese). >> i would like to invite representatives from oca and the chinese benevolent association to join us. (applause)

>> let me welcome everyone for coming out to this great kickoff event. mayor lee, supervisor chiu, distinguished guests from the community, city family, all of us coming